164. Name: Emma Nyrén Title: “The Voice of the Voiceless”: News Production and Journalistic Practice at Al Jazeera English Institution: Stockholm University Country: Sweden Date: 2014 Language: English Abstract: This study explores how cultural and social environments surrounding Al Jazeera English shape the channel’s journalism practices. Al Jazeera English has been described as a contra-flow news organization in the global media landscape. This study discusses the different reasons why the channel is described in this way, by looking at its origins, aims, characteristics and ideals. Based on interviews with Al Jazeera English journalists, news observations and two field observations in London, the researcher argues that Al Jazeera English brings cultural and social sensitivity to its news reports by engaging with multiple in-depth perspectives, using local reporters and integrating citizen-generated materials. The channel’s early adoption of online communication technologies and citizen journalism also contributes to a more democratic news direction and gives the channel a wider spectrum of opinions and perspectives. By applying a comparative analysis between Al Jazeera English’s journalism and the journalism of other news organizations, differences and similarities within the journalistic practices were detected. This comparison gives the global citizen an improved comprehension and enables a new understanding of how news is produced and negotiated within the global media landscape.
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